Lighter



P. RABE LIGHTER Sept. 19, 1967 Filed Aug. 28, 1964 Fig. 1

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Inventor.-

PE TER ABE Af; Afro/ausg United States Patent Olice 3,343,040 Patented Sept. 19, 1967 12 claims. (cl. 317-83) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The housing of an electric table lighter accommodates a corrosion-resistant vessel whose top is open and which serves to accommodate one or more removable batteries. The batteries can be inserted or removed at the upper side of the housing and the vessel intercepts and accumulates electrolyte solution which might escape from the batteries.

The present invention relates to lighters in general, and more particularly to electric table lighters. Still more particularly, the invention relates to an electric table lighter or desk lighter of the type wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery.

Table lighters whose ignition system is connected to one or more batteries are well known. In such lighters, the ignition system produces a spark which ignities a stream of fuel issuing from a tank to thereby produce a iiame. A serious drawback of conventional electric lighters which are known to me at this time is that the sensitive parts of the ignition system are not protected from the electrolyte solution in the event that such solution happens to escape from or penetrates through the casing of the battery, and also that the ignition system is fully exposed when the operator replaces or inspects the battery. The electrolyte can actually destroy the interior of the li-ghter or will cause suiiicient damage to prevent the lighter from functioning in the required manner. Furthermore, the electrolyte can attack and is likely to destroy the fuel tank which could have serious consequences, particularly when a gaseous fuel is stored at a pressure of up to and higher than atmospheres absolute pressure. It can also happen that the electrolyte destroys the housing of the lighter and attacks the surface of the table on which the lighter is placed, particularly if the lighter is not used for extended periods of time; for example, when the owner is on a vacation or on a business trip. Moreover, the operator may receive a shock when the circuitry of the ignition system is exposed.v

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved electric lighter, particularly a table lighter, which is constructed and assembled in such a way that, should the electrolyte solution happen to escape from the casing of the battery, such electrolyte is prevented from attacking the remaining components of the lighter in a very simple, reliable and space-saving manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lighter of the just outlined characteristics wherein the battery is stored in such a way that the escape of electrolyte solution from the battery can be detected without necessitating complete dismantling of the lighter.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric table lighter wherein the escape of electrolyte solution from the battery is immediately apparent to a person who decides to replace the battery so that the solution may `be removed prior to insertion of a fresh battery.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an electric lighter wherein the electrolyte solution is prevented yfrom reaching the sensitive parts of the ignition system and/or the fuel tank even if the battery is leaky and while the operator decides to expose the battery in order to replace it by a fresh battery or to check the lighter for eventual leakage of electrolyte.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide an improved housing for an electric table lighter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel Vessel for the battery of an electric table lighter.

Briefly stated, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of an electric lighter, particularly a table lighter of the type wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery which contains an electrolyte solution. The lighter comprises a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, an open-top vessel removably or permanently received in the upper portion of the housing and arranged to accommodate at least one battery which is insertable or removable through the open top so that any solution which might escape from a battery accumulates in the interior of the vessel, a cover detachably or hingedly secured to the vessel to normally close the open top, and an ignition system including a plurality of electrical components at least some of which are preferably secured to the vessel in the lower portion of the housing 'but are sealed from the interior of the vessel so that they cannot be contaminated or damaged hy the solution.

It is often preferred to construct the vessel in such a way that its bottom wall forms part of a mounting panel which is installed in and defines with the housing a sealed compartment which accommodates the transformer, capacitor, switch and eventually one or more additional components of the ignition system. The fuel tank may be installed in the housing next to the sealed compartment and the burner may be placed next to the vessel.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved lighter itself, however, both as to its construction and the mode of manipulating the same, together with additional features and advantages thereof,v will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly elevational and partly vertical sectional view of an electric table lighter which is constructed in accordance with my invention; and

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line II-II of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an electric table lighter which comprises a housing 1 including a lower portion or base 3 and a tubular upper portion or shell 2. The right-hand section of the shell 2, as viewed in FIG. 1, accommodates certain elements of the electric ignition system and the left-hand section of the shell accommodates a fuel tank 1a which is located below a burner `1b. The burner 1b is surrounded by a detachable cap 4 whose top is open or is provided with an opening (not shown) for the llame which develops on ignition of a stream of fuel issuing from the tank 1a. The fuel is ignited by conventional electrodes 1c, 1d defining a spark gap in a manner well known from the art of electric lighters.

The top ofthe right-hand section of the shell 2 is sealed by a cover 5 which is detachably or hingedly secured to a mounting panel or carrier 6. This carrier is soldered, riveted or otherwise permanently or detachably secured to a side wall of the shell 2 and is constructed in accordance with the present invention. It includes a substantially horizontal bottom wall 6a which defines with the shell 2 a lower compartment 2a arranged to accommodate a series of electrical components of the ignition system. The carrier 6 further comprises four side walls 6b which extend upwardly from the bottom wall 6a to define therewith a vessel or tray 19 having an open top so that its internal space is exposed as soon as the operator moves the cover to its open position, either by bodily removing the Cover' or by pivoting the cover with reference to the shell In the .illustrated embodiment, the cover is retained ori the shell by friction. The battery 7 which is accommodated in the internal space of the vessel 19 is of cylindrical shape and is held in horizontal position. Its terminals "7a, 7b are engaged by resilient contacts 17, 18 mounted on two opposed side walls 6b and connected in circuit with certain electric components in the compartment 2a. These components include a capacitor 8, a high-voltage transformer 9 whose secondary winding is connected with the electrodes 1c, 1d, and an electric switch 10. The switch 14) comprises a first xed contact which is connected to the primary winding of the transformer 9, a second fixed contact which is connected to one terminal of the battery 7, and an additional contact for the moving element which is connected to one plate of the capacitor 8, the other plate of the capacitor and the other end of the primary winding being connected to the other terminal of the battery. If the operator desires to produce a flame, the moving element of the switch 10 is moved from the rst contact to the second contact in order to complete for a short interval of time the electric circuit ofthe capacitor 8. In the next step, the switch again connects the primary winding to the capacitor so that the latter discharges and the resultant surge generates in the secondary winding of the transformer 9 a voltage high enough to produce a a spark which jumps across the gap between the electrodes 1c, 1d in a manner well known in the art. The switch is actuated by a pushbutton 11 which is accessible through an opening in the shell 2 and which also serves to open the valve (not shown) serving to permit escape of fuel from the tank 1a. The pushbutton 11 rocks a two-armed `lever 12 which is pivotable about a pin 12a and cooperates With a contact 13 of the switch 10. The exact construction of the ignition system forms no part of the present invention.

The capacitor 8 is surrounded by a strap 14 which secures it to a downwardly extending portion 6c of the carrier 6. The transformer 9 is mounted on a bracket 15 which is also secured to the downwardly extending carrier portion 6c. The switch 10 is mounted on a tubular rivet 16 which passes through the downwardly extending portion 6c and through a similar downwardly extending portion 6d of the carrier 6. The components 8, 9, 10 are preferably assembled on the carrier 6 before the latter is inserted into the housing 1.

The vessel or tray 19, formed by the walls 6a, 6b, is located in the uppermost part of the housing 1 and need not be as deep as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The upper end faces of the side walls 6b carry an annular sealing element which is compressed when the cover 5 is moved to the closed position and thus prevents escape of any electrolyte solution which might have escaped from the battery 7. The sealing element 20 prevents escape of electrolyte solution from the vessel 19 even if a clumsy user accidentally overturns the lighter so that the surface of the table is protected even if the lighter remains in overturned position. The internal space of the vessel 19 is of rectangular outline and the corner portions between the bottom wall 6a and side walls 6b are rounded (see FIG. 2) so that the vessel may accommodate and properly supports cylindrical batteries as well as batteries which are of octagonal, hexagonal, square or other polygonal shape.

When it becomes necessary to replace the battery, the operator merely lifts the cover 5 to gain access to the interior of the vessel 19. The battery 7 is simply clamped between the contacts 17, 18 and may be lifted by exertion of negligible force. By removing the cover 5, the operator need not expose any other parts of the ignition system so that, even if the vesse-l happens to contain some electrolyte solution, such solution cannot come in contact with the sensitive parts of the lighter. Once the battery 7 is removed, the operator automatically detects any liquid which might be contained in the internal space of the vessel 19, and such liquid may be removed prior to insertion of a fresh battery. It will be noted that the vessel 19 is open at its top so that, if the housing 1 of the lighter remains in the position of FIG. l or 2, there can be no spillage of electroylte excepting if the operator is clumsy and overturns the lighter. However, even such overturning cannot cause damage to the parts in the compartment 2a and/or under the cap 4. It goes without saying that the vessel 19 may accommodate two or more batteries including one or more batteries which are connected in the circuit of the ignition system and one or more spare batteries. It is further to be noted that the vessel 19 may be made as a separate part which can be inserted or removed from the housing 1 so that it may be readily cleaned and/ or loaded. Alternatively, the vessel 19 may accommodate a second vessel which receives one or more batteries so that the battery or batteries need not come in actual contact with the material of the vessel 19. All such modifications are so obvious that each thereof can be readily comprehended without necessitating additional illustrations.

The material of the carrier 6 (and of a vessel which might be provided in the vessel 19) may be a metal or plastic which is resistant to the corrosive influence of an electrolyte solution or whose wall thickness suffices to prevent rapid destruction of its material. For example, the carrier 6 may consist of synthetic plastic material, e.g. polyethelene, polyvinylchloride, polycarbonate or polyamide, or of metallic material, e.g. sheet metal consisting of nickel-chrome-steel or having a protecting layer of lacquer or plastic.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper side; and a vessel provided in said housing and arranged to accommodate at least one battery so that the solution which might escape from a battery accumulates in said vessel, the interior of said vessel being accessible from above at the upper side of said housing.

2. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper portion; and a vessel provided in said upper portion of the housing and arranged to accommodate at least one battery so that the solution which might escape from a battery accumulates in said vessel, the interior of said vessel being accessible from above so that the battery may be inserted or removed without tilting of the housing.

3. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper side; a vessel provided in said housing and arranged to accommodate at least one battery so that the solution which might escape from a battery accumulates in said vessel, said vessel having an open top through which -a battery may be inserted or removed at the upper side end without tilting of said housing; and cover means for normally closing said open top.

4. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper side; Ia vessel provided in said housing and arranged to accommodate at least one battery so that the solution which might escape from a battery accumulates in said vessel, said vessel having an open top through which a battery may be inserted or removed at the upper side and without tilting of said housing; cover means for normally sealing said open top; and sealing means provided between said cover means and said vessel to prevent escape of solution from the vessel in the event that the housing is tilted to a position of inclination in which the solution would be free to escape through said open top.

5. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter of the type wherein the ign-ition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper side; a mounting panel provided in said housing and including bottom and side walls defining a vessel arranged to accommodate at least one battery so that the solution which might escape from a battery accumulates in said vessel, said Vessel having -an open top which is accessible at the upper side and without tilting of said housing so that a battery may be inserted into or withdrawn from said vessel without spillage of electrolyte which might have accumulated in said vessel; cover means for normally closing said open top; and an ignition system including a plurality of components secured to said panel at a level below said bottom wall.

6. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper side; and a vessel provided in said housing and arranged to accommodate at least one battery so that the solution which might escape from a battery accumulates in said vessel, said vessel defining an internal space of substantially rectangular cross section and having an upper portion provided with an opening through which a battery may be inserted or removed from said internal space at the upper side and without tilting of said housing.

7. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter of the type wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper side; a mounting panel provided in said housing and including a substantially horizontal bottom wall and -a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from and defining with said bottom wall a vessel having an open top and arranged to accommodate at least one battery which is insertable or removable through said open top at the upper side and without tilting of said housing so that any solution which might escape from a battery in said vessel accumulates on said bottom wall and remains in the vessel unless the housing is inclined sufiiciently to cause the s-olution to overflow one of said side walls; an ignition system including electrical components secured to said mounting panel beneath said bottom wall; and cover means for normally closing said open top.

8. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter of the type wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper side; a mounting panel provided in said housing and including a substantially horizontal bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from and defining with said bottom wall a vessel having an open top and arranged to accommodate at least one battery which is insertable or removable through said open top at the upper side and without tilting of said housing so that any solution which might escape from a battery in said vessel accumulates on said bottom wall and remains confined in the vessel unless caused to overflow one of said side walls in response to tilting of the housing, said mounting panel further including a portion extending downwardly from said bottom wall and said housing comprising a shell defining with said bottom wall a compartment accommodating said downwardly extending portion and sealed from said vessel; an ignition system including electrical components secured to said downwardly extending portion in said compartment; and cover means for normally closing said open top.

9. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter of the type wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper side; a mounting panel provided in said housing and including a substantially horizontal bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from and defining with said bottom wall a vessel having an open top and arranged t-o `accommodate at least one battery which is insertable or removable through said open top at the upper side and without tilting of said housing so that any solution which might escape from a battery in said Vessel accumulates on said bottom wall and remains in the vessel unless the housing is tilted sufficiently to cause the solution to overflow one of said side walls; an ignition system including electrical components secured to said mounting panel beneath said bottom wall; detachable cover means for normally closing said open top; and sealing means provided between said side walls and said cover means to seal the interior of the vessel from the atmosphere when the cover means is attached to the vessel.

10. In an electric lighter, particularly in a table lighter of the type wherein the ignition system receives electric current from a battery containing an electrolyte solution, in combination, a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion said upper portion having an upper side; a mounting panel provided in said housing and including a substantially horizontal bottom wall located between said upper and lower portions and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from and defining With said bottom wall a vessel located in said upper portion and having an open top, said vessel being arranged to accommodate at least one battery which is insertable or removable through said open top at the upper side of said upper portion so that any solution which might escape from a battery in said vessel accumulates on said bottom wall and remains confined in the vessel unless the housing -is tilted sufiiciently to cause the solution to overflow; -an ignition system including electrical components secured to said mounting panel in the lower portion of said housing beneath said bottom wall; and cover means for normally closing said open top.

11. A structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said vessel consists of metallic material.

12. A structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said vessel consists of synthetic plastic material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 699,202 5/ 1902 Marschall 219-268 1,052,449 2/ 1913 Beck 136-173 1,895,032 1/1933 Fisher 317-87 X 2,308,270 1/1943 Cubert 136-171 2,366,929 1/ 1945 Pfeil 9-8.3 2,439,408 4/ 1948 Mitchell 136--173 X 2,482,794 9/ 1949 Peterson 67--7 3,181,974 5/ 1965 Barbera 67-7 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,183,510 1/1959 France.

RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner. V. Y. MAYEWSKY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ELECTRIC LIGHTER, PARTICULARLY IN A TABLE LIGHTER WHEREIN THE INGITION SYSTEM RECEIVES ELECTRIC CURRENT FROM A BATTERY CONTAINING AN ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION, IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING HAVING AN UPPER SIDE; AND A VESSEL PROVIDED IN SAID HOUSING AND ARRANGED TO ACCOMMODATE AT LEAST ONE BATTERY SO THAT THE SOLUTION WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE 